Major Requirements (BA, BS, ACS, BS/MS)

The Chemistry Department offers undergraduate degree programs leading to a BA, BS, an American Chemical Society-approved BS, and a joint BS and MS:

• Requirements for a bacehlor of arts in chemistry
• Requirements for a bachelor of science in chemistry
• Requirements for a ACS-approved bachelor of science in chemistry
• Requirements for the BS and MS in chemistry

The BA in chemisry

The department requires 40 credits in chemistry, including the following courses:

• Chem 103 and 104 (Principles of Chemistry I and II)
• Chem 253 and 254 (Organic Chemistry I and II)
• Chem 311 and 313 (Analytical Chemistry and lab)
• Chem 312 and 314 (Physical Chemistry, and labs)
• Chem 369 and Chem 379 (Chemical Structure and lab)
• Chem 370 and Chem 371 (Inorganic Chemistry and lab)

In addition, chemistry majors must complete two semesters of calculus (Math 140-141) and two semesters of calculus-level physics with laboratory (Phys 113-114; Phys 181-182).

The BS in chemistry

All requirements for the BA plus:

1. one of the following courses:
   • Chem 351 (Qualitative Organic Analysis)
   • Biochm 383, 385 (Biochemistry I with lab)
   • Chem 361 (Analytical Instrumentation)
2. two (2) additional courses from the following list:
   1. any chemistry elective at or beyond the 300 level
   2. any physics elective beyond Phys 114
   3. any mathematics elective beyond 141
   4. any biology course
   5. any computer science course (CS 110 is recommended)
   6. any geography course
   7. Any biochemistry course beyond Biochm 383/385

For the ACS Certified BS in Chemistry

The Chemistry Department has been authorized by the American Chemical Society to offer an ACS-certified BS degree in chemistry. Requirements for this degree include:

1. all courses required for the BA, plus:
   1. Chem 351 (Qualitative Organic Analysis)
   2. Chem 361 (Analytical Instrumentation)
   3. BIOCHM 383,385 (Biochemistry I with lab)
2. Two additional courses from the following list:
   • Any biochemistry course beyond BIOCHM 383/385.
   • Any biology course beyond BIOL 110.
   • Any chemistry elective at or beyond the 300 level.
   • Any computer science course (CS 110 is recommended).
   • Any E&GSCI course beyond E&GSCI 100.
   • Any mathematics elective beyond MATH 141.
   • Any physics elective beyond PHYS 114.

For the combined BS/MS degree in chemistry

The Chemistry Department now offers a combined BS/MS degree track, designed to offer talented and motivated students the opportunity to attain a master's degree in five years. Students who plan to enter this program should have a solid high school record, particularly in chemistry, mathematics, physics, and English. Requirements for this degree include:

1. All chemistry courses required for the BA.
2. The requirements for the MS degree in chemistry (33 credits). Please see the description of the requirements for the MS in chemistry.
3. A minimum of 11 credits of elective chemistry courses chosen from departmental offerings.

   The student completing these requirements will receive both the BS in chemistry and the MS in chemistry. No degree is awarded until the requirements are complete. To be retained in the program, students must maintain a GPA of 2.0 in undergraduate chemistry and biochemistry courses and grades of B or better in graduate chemistry courses.

   Admission to this program is by application only. Complete information is available at the department office.

Recommendations

Beyond the minimum requirements for the degree, chemistry majors are encouraged to take elective courses chosen from among the following offerings:

• Chem 351 (Organic Qualitative Analysis),
• Biochm 383 and 385 (Biochemistry with lab),
• Chem 361 (Analytical Instrumentation), and
• Chem 478 (Readings in Chemistry).

Research participation for credit generally begins in the junior or senior year with enrollment in Chem 481 and 482 (Advanced Laboratory in Chemistry I & II) or Chem 491 and 492 (Senior Thesis in Chemistry I & II).

In addition to the preceding undergraduate offerings, qualified students may enroll for undergraduate credit in the department's offerings for the Master's Degree Program in Chemistry. Suitable courses are:

• Chem 658 (Medicinal Chemistry),
• Chem 670 (Topics in Inorganic Chemistry),
• Chem 601 and 602 (Chemical Dynamics I & II),
• Chem 611 and 612 (Chemical Structure I & II), and
• Chem 621 and 622 (Chemical Synthesis I & II).

A list of current graduate course offerings is available from the department office. Additional course work in mathematics, physics, or biology is also encouraged.

Any student interested in majoring in chemistry should immediately contact the Chemistry Department to be assigned a faculty advisor who will help plan a sequence of courses suitable to the student's interests.

Advanced work

The department encourages its majors to take Chem 481 and 482 (Advanced Laboratory) or Chem 491 and 492 (Senior Thesis). These courses generally provide a unique learning experience for the undergraduate scholar. Students are guided in advanced level laboratory work by members of the faculty in the faculty members' research laboratories.

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